Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood missed out on his homebred Breathonme landing the Derek Plant Farm Machinery Handicap under in-form Wayne Smith on the concluding session of the annual Bellewstown three-day festival last evening.
Wood, who was due to arrive on a flight from London late last evening to attend this afternoon's meeting at Leopardstown, was overjoyed with the success when speaking by phone to winning trainer Jessica Harrington. 'He told me we'll have a celebration over the weekend and he's delighted. She's such a small filly the only way to go is out in front and Wayne gave her a super ride when she got there after the half-way stage.'
Enterprising tactics by Wayne Lordan won the day for favourite backers in the opening twelve furlong maiden when second reserve Glass Note made every yard a winning one to score at the expense of market rival Gulch King.
Owned by bookmaker and Leopardstown chairman Joe Donnelly's wife Marie, Tommy Stack's filly was a drifter on course from 1/1 to 2/1 while Gulch King plummeted from 7/2 to 9/4 but she powered home under the promising five pound claimer to win by four lengths.
Lantern Leader came from another parish to put his head in front where it mattered in the 2m4f handicap hurdle to provide rider Willie O'Callaghan (20) with his second success in the plate.
David O'Leary, who partnered Strange Luck to finish third, was not so lucky as he was banned for 4 days for using his whip with excessive force and frequency.
Tommy Carberry and his son Philip combined to win the Sam Dennigan & Co Maiden Hurdle with 6/1 chance Brierfield Lady while older brother Paul went one better and found the winners enclosure twice duing the evening, compliments of Curragh trainer Michael Halford's The Gypsy Baron and Ask The Moon.
